Fulham v Hull City

16 October 2009 12:32

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Fulham v Hull City
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Monday, 19 October 2009 Kick-off: 2000 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, & live on ESPN
TEAM NEWS
Fulham will be without the suspended Kagisho Dikagcoi, as he begins a three-match ban after being sent off against West Ham for violent conduct.
Simon Davies (ankle) is doubtful, but Damien Duff (calf) returns.
Jimmy Bullard may make his long-awaited comeback for Hull, against his former club, after nine months out.
Tigers manager Phil Brown will leave it late to decide if Bullard is fit enough to start. The same applies for Anthony Gardner, who has been out since August.
Fulham
Suspended: Dikgacoi (three matches) Doubtful: S Davies (ankle)
Injured: Stockdale (knee), Kallio (Achilles)
Hull City
Suspended: None Doubtful: Gardner (knee), Cooper (hamstring)
Injured: Ashbee & Garcia (both knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
There will be a party atmosphere at Craven Cottage as Fulham prepare to celebrate their 130th anniversary.
Roy Hodgson's men will have little chance to enjoy the moment, however, with fixtures coming thick and fast this season. This will be their 15th game, more than any other team in the Premier League.
A visit from Roma on Thursday in the Europa League will test them further, before a daunting trip to Manchester City next Sunday.
Hull City beat West Ham 1-0 at the KC Stadium exactly a year ago on Monday to move up to third in the Premier League table, behind Chelsea and Liverpool. A turbulent 12 months may have followed but victory over Wigan in their last league match has left Hull dreaming of headier heights once again.
"Maybe I had forgotten what I am in the game for... I am in the game to have fun, to enjoy myself. Maybe I was getting too intense, too serious"
Phil Brown, Hull City manager
Fulham were the only team that Hull completed a league double over last season.
In fact, Hull's first ever top-flight victory came against Roy Hodgson's side on the opening day of the 2008/09 campaign, while March's win at Craven Cottage was their only victory in the second half of last season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• The two clubs met on this exact date 13 years ago at Hull's former Boothferry Park ground. Fulham won the fourth-tier match 3-0, with goals from Darren Freeman, Paul Watson and Mike Conroy.
• That victory is the only time Fulham have managed to beat Hull at home in seven attempts, since a 2-0 victory in November 1977.
606: DEBATE
Have your say on this match
Fulham
• Despite their lowly league position, Fulham have exactly the same number of points from their opening seven games of the 2008/09 season, when they went on to finish seventh.
• Fulham have kept only one clean sheet so far this season, their 1-0 win over Portsmouth on the opening day.
• If he features, Simon Davies will be playing in his 100th game for Fulham.
Hull City
• The Tigers have conceded ten goals in their last two away Premier League matches.
• Hull have scored in all but one of their eight league games, a 1-0 defeat at home to Birmingham City.
• Their Craven Cottage victory aside, Hull's last Premier League away win was a 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on 25 October 25 last year.
• Phil Brown is a victory away from 50 wins as Hull City boss. He is just two months away from celebrating three years in charge at the KC Stadium.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Danny Murphy
Fulham
Murphy: 4 goals (2 league)
Geovanni
Hull City
Geovanni: 4 goals (3 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Adam Watts & Patrick Keane
Fourth official: Lee Probert
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Fulham (D2-2 v West Ham, a): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy, Dikgacoi, Dempsey (Riise 84), A Johnson (Baird 46), Kamara (E Johnson 81). Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Greening, Nevland
Hull City (W2-1 v Wigan, h): Myhill; McShane, Sonko, Kilbane, Dawson, Zayatte (Olofinjana 81), Barmby (Ghilas 64), Marney, Geovanni, Hunt, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Mouyokolo 90). Subs not used: Duke, Altidore, Halmosi, Cairney
MOST RECENT MEETING
Fulham 0-1 Hull, 4 March 2009
Hull City scorer: Manucho 90